Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan side endured a painful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, missing out on semi-final qualification. Yet the tournament’s fallout didn’t remain confined to performances alone—off the field, the squad found itself drawn into a public back-and-forth involving past Pakistan players, with Shadab Khan becoming the focal point of a fresh controversy. The latest development came when Pakistan batter Babar Azam, currently captaining Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026, urged for respect and warned against personal jabs as the debate continues to simmer.
Pakistan’s World Cup exit and the dispute around Shadab
After Pakistan’s loss to India in Colombo, former captain Shahid Afridi and former batter Mohammad Yousuf publicly called for Shadab to be dropped from the team. Shadab responded sharply by challenging their standing in Pakistan cricket, insisting they had never been part of a unit that beat India in a World Cup. The exchange then spilled into wider conversation within Pakistan cricket circles as former voices criticised Shadab’s comments.
Babar Azam calls for respect, backs Shadab
Two months after the row, Babar—who is leading Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026—offered his view on why the constant clash between former and current Pakistan players has become so repetitive. He said there should be mutual respect and that people shouldn’t resort to personal attacks.
- Babar suggested that when current players speak up, it shouldn’t be treated the same way as when former cricketers target them.
- He defended Shadab by saying he did not understand why a controversy is sparked when an active player responds for himself, but not when a former Pakistan cricketer attacks the same person.
- On Zalmi TV, Babar said Shadab’s remarks were made in the heat of the moment and that everyone has their own style of speaking.
- He added that the bigger picture should be supporting Pakistan, noting that social media ensures that people can’t simply be stopped from talking.
Babar’s message was clear: for all the frustration around Pakistan’s T20 World Cup showing, internal fighting is not the solution. He acknowledged the team didn’t do well, but argued that the debate should not turn into a cycle of criticism directed at individuals.
Shadab’s reference to 2021 and the response from former players
During a later moment—following a strong outing against Namibia—Shadab brought up Pakistan’s win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup as part of his argument when answering questions about criticism from former players. While Shadab had hit back at both Afridi and Yousuf, the exchange didn’t end there: the two former figures then further lambasted Shadab for making those comments.
No “comparison” between eras as Babar weighs in
While Babar backed the idea that experience matters, he also pushed back against comparing players from different periods of Pakistan cricket. He said he understands the kind of background and exposure players like Afridi and Yousuf bring, but insisted that there should be no direct comparisons between the “90s cricketers” and today’s squad.
- Babar said there is “no comparison” between former players and current players.
- He argued that players from the earlier era have played more cricket and are highly experienced, so if they believe Pakistan are making mistakes, then those mistakes must be identified.
- However, he stressed that personal attacks change the tone—once a player feels disrespected, they may feel compelled to respond.
- Babar added that players have self-respect: if it’s not respected, the response can end up mirroring the lack of respect.
PSL 2026 form: Babar’s numbers and upcoming final
Beyond the controversy, Babar’s own PSL 2026 campaign continues to stand out. He is currently the tournament’s leading run-scorer, having amassed 588 runs in 10 matches. His average sits at 84, and his strike rate is 146.27.
Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar, will face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 2026 final on Sunday, May 3.
